Ivanka Trump in hot water over blessing from controversial rabbi

Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner have been blessed by one of Israel’s top rabbis, but there are a lot of people who aren’t happy about it.

The pair received the blessing from Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef before they attended the opening of the new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, which coincides with the 70th anniversary of Israel.

The meeting has sparked outrage around the world, many believing the First Daughter should not be associating with the rabbi because of his controversial history.

Ivanka Trump at the opening of the U.S embassy in Jerusalem with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin / Image: AP

During a weekly sermon in 2017, Rabbi Yosef suggested that women who did not dress modestly should be compared to animals.

"A woman is not an animal; she has to keep her dignity. To be modest [in her dress] is her dignity," Yosef said at the time.

He has also come under fire for his racist comments. He once referred to black people as ‘monkeys’ and argued that the country should be free of non-Jews while living in Israel.

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef with Pope Francis/ Image: AP

One Twitter user didn't hold back his thoughts. "Not surprised that Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are being blessed by Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the Rabbi who infamously compared Black people to monkeys.The head of their household considers African countries "shitholes" and insults minorities regularly. Go figure," - @MrErnestOwens.
Another commented: "I'm a sephardic Jew and I am disgusted by Jared, Ivanka and Rabbi Yosef," - @lesleyabravanel

The embassy moving from its former home in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is a significant one. The decision follows Donald Trump's promise to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, breaking with decades of US neutrality on the issue and in turn, creating further unrest between the parties.
Ivanka Trump shared an image from the opening of the embassy to her 4.3 million Instagram followers to let people know her father doesn’t back down on his word.

"Today we dedicated the new US Embassy in Jerusalem - a longtime promise to the American and Israeli people.,” she explained. “While many Presidents before him have backed down from their pledge to move the American Embassy once they were in office, this President delivered. Because when President Trump makes a promise, he keeps it."

The first daughter’s trip comes at a time amid protests between Palestinian protesters and the Israeli military, that have resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people, including eight children.